Wheatfield with a Reaper, 1889

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
  • Oil on Canvas, 73 X 92 cm
  • Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
    (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
  • F 618

This painting depicting a reaper in a sun-drenched wheatfield was painted in Saint-Rémy, a small village near Arles. In the wake of several mental crises, Van Gogh had decided to commit himself to the hospital there at the end of April 1889. He was treated by Dr. Peyron, who gave him permission to continue painting.

Van Gogh worked in the garden, drew the hospital’s corridors and barred windows, painted the view from his cell, and made several portraits of other patients. Occasionally, he was allowed to venture outside the hospital walls, but never alone. When he could not work outdoors he made his own variations on the paintings of Millet, Delacroix and other masters.

More information about "Wheatfield with a Reaper"

Biblical Metaphor

Van Gogh himself later wrote about the meaning of this painting, referring to the well-known biblical metaphor: “In this reaper – a vague figure laboring like the devil in the terrible heat to finish his task – I saw an image of death, in the sense that the wheat being reaped represented mankind. […] But there is nothing sad in this death, it takes place in broad daylight, under a sun that bathes everything in a fine, golden light.”

Copyright 2005-2010 - Van Gogh Museum | Credits | Disclaimer